Epidemiology

Approximately 20% of adult cases of osteomyelitis are hematogenous, which is more common in males for unknown reasons. (Adult osteomyelitis. Jason H Calhoun, M M Manring Infectious Disease Clinics of North Americas, 2005 December)

The incidence of spinal osteomyelitis was estimated to be 1 in 450,000 in 2001. In subsequent years, however, the overall incidence of vertebral osteomyelitis is believed to have increased as a consequence of IV drug use, increasing age of the population, and higher rates of nosocomial infection due to intravascular devices and other instrumentation. The overall incidence of osteomyelitis is higher in developing countries. (Vertebral osteomyelitis in Göteborg, Sweden: a retrospective study of patients during 1990-199595 by M Beronius, B Bergman, R Andersson)